bludz
a waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap
QC: AM, p2, celticpride
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack, Snobalt
[OVERVIEW]
Manectric possesses a fantastic Speed tier after Mega Evolution, which makes it very threatening to offensive playstyles. Because of the offensive pressure it applies thanks to its great Electric / Ice / Fire coverage, it is an excellent momentum grabber with Volt Switch. It also has a decent defensive typing in mono-Electric, which, in tandem with Intimidate, allows it to tank priority moves such as Bullet Punch and Brave Bird. Unfortunately, its Speed tier isn't the best prior to Mega Evolution, preventing it from safely Mega Evolving against Keldeo, which it would normally check. It's also walled by Ground-types such as Hippowdon, which also prevent it from using Volt Switch freely, and it only has one set, so it is rather predictable. While Mega Manectric has decent power, it relies on super effective hits to defeat most walls, meaning that it will often be forced to bail out of them with Volt Switch. Overall, Mega Manectric's niche in the OU tier is a solid one, primarily as a threat to offense with a worse matchup against bulkier playstyles.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Flamethrower / Overheat
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Manectite
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Mega Manectric to pivot out of unfavorable matchups and ease prediction when the foe also switches out. Thunderbolt is the preferred STAB move when going for maximum power and KOs. A Fire-type coverage move is used to hit bulky Steel-types as well as hit Grass-types harder than Hidden Power Ice; Flamethrower is more consistent than Overheat because it does not miss and does not induce a Special Attack drop, but Overheat is more powerful, netting the OHKO on Mega Metagross and Excadrill, as well as guaranteeing the OHKO on Ferrothorn. Hidden Power Ice completes the BoltBeam coverage, providing a way to hit Ground- and Dragon-types.
Set Details
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Maximum Speed EVs with a Timid nature make Mega Manectric as fast as possible, outspeeding threats such as Tornadus-T and Weavile while Speed tying Jolly Mega Lopunny. Maximum Special Attack is used to hit as hard as possible. Lightning Rod allows Manectric to get a Special Attack boost in its pre-Mega forme if it is hit by an Electric-type move.
Usage Tips
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It is generally advisable to Mega Evolve Manectric early in the match so that it can utilize its excellent Speed and apply pressure from the get-go. Volt Switch is the move of choice early- and mid-game to soften up the opponent's team and provide yourself with the switch advantage. One should try to identify potential Choice Scarf users on the opposing team and consider hard switching Manectric if faced with one such as Landorus-T. If the opposing team is carrying a significant number of priority moves, limit the number of times Mega Manectric switches into entry hazards so that it can survive these moves late-game.
Team Options
========
Mega Manectric really appreciates entry hazard support, so Pokemon like Garchomp, Heatran, and Landorus-T all make for fine partners to set up Stealth Rock and tank attacks directed towards it. In a similar vein, Klefki, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn can stack Spikes, which can be deadly in tandem with Volt Switch. Water-, Grass-, and Ice-types are very beneficial to Mega Manectric for their ability to defeat Ground-types that wall it. Keldeo in particular is also able to pressure blanket special walls such as Chansey thanks to Secret Sword, and it also checks Bisharp, which gets a Defiant boost from Mega Manectric's Intimidate. Azumarill is also a great partner because it checks Mega Charizard X, which takes very little damage from Mega Manectric's attacks, while also being an answer to weather-based offense, which Mega Manectric struggles against. Breloom also checks weather-based offense and can use Mach Punch to clean up teams that Mega Manectric has weakened. Many bulky Psychic-types such as Celebi, Latias, and Mew can wall Mega Manectric, so it really enjoys Pursuit support from the likes of Tyranitar, Weavile, Bisharp, and Assault Vest Metagross. Hoopa-U works great with Mega Manectric by taking advantage of walls, checking bulky Psychic-types, and, most notably, defeating Mega Alakazam, which outspeeds and checks Mega Manectric. Weavile especially synergizes well with Mega Manectric for also defeating Ground- and Grass-types that wall it, while Mega Manectric defeats some of Weavile's best checks in bulky Steel-types such as Mega Scizor. Gengar is also a nice partner for generally pressuring defensive Pokemon that can take hits from Mega Manectric, and Mega Manectric can check Tornadus-T, which is a major annoyance to Gengar. Crawdaunt is a solid partner for many of the same reasons as Azumarill and Weavile. Talonflame can work well with Mega Manectric by overloading similar checks such as Hippowdon and hard checking Clefable, and Mega Manectric can threaten bulky Water-types such as Slowbro in return. Mega Manectric can fit onto rain offense with a powerful Thunder and the ability to pivot to reset weather and threaten bulky Water-types, which are typically annoying for rain. Tornadus-T is also a solid partner, as it forms a VoltTurn core with Mega Manectric and threatens Grass-types, which check or wall Mega Manectric.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===========
Hidden Power Grass can be used to hit Water / Ground types such as Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Mega Swampert, but it provides generally inferior coverage to Hidden Power Ice. Toxic can be run to cripple bulky Ground-types, but Mega Manectric has to sacrifice Thunderbolt or Volt Switch to do this.
Checks and Counters
===============
**Ground-types**: Ground-types are the most annoying Pokemon to Mega Manectric because they prevent it from spamming Volt Switch. Hippowdon is a notorious Mega Manectric counter that avoids the 2HKO from Hidden Power Ice with a mixed spread. Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Seismitoad all wall Mega Manectric thanks to their typing giving them a neutrality to Hidden Power Ice. Rhyperior is also a hard check, as it also avoids the 2HKO from Hidden Power Ice, but its lack of reliable recovery can let Mega Manectric break past it if it is worn down as the match goes on.
**Grass-types**: Some Grass-types such as Celebi and Tangrowth are bulky enough to wall Mega Manectric despite its super effective coverage against them. Amoonguss is a check but cannot switch in against Flamethrower very well and has to beware of Overheat. Mega Venusaur is the truest counter of all of these because of Thick Fat.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types resist Mega Manectric's STAB and Fire-type coverage moves, so they are only susceptible to the weak Hidden Power Ice. Latios and Latias are very common checks to Mega Manectric, and both avoid the 2HKO from Hidden Power Ice and can then retaliate or heal up. By virtue of their typing, Mega Charizard X and Kyurem-B are hit neutrally by Hidden Power Ice and can heal off any damage easily with Roost. Mega Altaria is capable of running enough bulk to tank Hidden Power Ice as well, and defensive Dragon Dance sets can use Manectric as setup fodder. Other bulky Dragons like Dragalge, Goodra, and Mega Ampharos can take Hidden Power Ice without much problem and retaliate with powerful STAB moves.
**Electric-types**: Raikou is a very prominent check to Mega Manectric, especially if it holding an Assault Vest. It has a solid Special Defense stat and is hit neutrally at worst by any attack, while it can also use a slower Volt Switch to give the opponent a switch advantage. Rotom-H resists every move Manectric runs, but like Raikou, it is susceptible to being worn down by entry hazard damage throughout the match, making it only a check.
**Faster Pokemon**: Mega Manectric is very fast, but there are several threats that can outspeed it. Weather sweepers like Excadrill, Mega Swampert, and Kingdra outspeed it under their respective weathers, while Mega Swampert also walls it completely. Mega Alakazam, Mega Sceptile, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Aerodactyl can hit Mega Manectric first with frighteningly strong STAB moves. Relevant Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Latios, Kyurem-B, and Keldeo can also outspeed Mega Manectric, and most can OHKO it, although Keldeo may need a bit of prior damage.
**Bulky Pokemon**: There are many bulky Pokemon capable of switching into Mega Manectric without taking too much damage. Chansey in particular takes basically no damage from Manectric, while Clefable, Mega Sableye, Mew, and Sylveon are also capable of switching in and healing up. Heatran and Tyranitar can tank any move from Manectric fairly easily and retaliate. Tyranitar in particular can be annoying for its ability to hit Manectric with Pursuit if it chooses to bail out with Volt Switch.
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